In this blog post, I will summarize my academic experiences, school activities, and examples of compassion, generosity, and cooperation during my time in high school, and introduce my plans and preparations for college.
Writing About Academic Experiences and Reflections
Due to my family’s financial situation, I was unable to attend private tutoring centers. As a result, my only formal learning environment was mostly school classes, and I occasionally had access to free online lectures. At first, I blamed my inability to attend tutoring centers solely on my circumstances and felt discouraged, but at some point, I began to reconsider the value of my classes. Unlike private tutors, certified teachers are people who have passed rigorous certification exams, and I began to feel guilty for not having thought to make the most of my classes. From that point on, I resolved to change my mindset and actively engage in my classes.
First, I made sure to prepare thoroughly in advance. I realized that by previewing the material, I could anticipate what the teacher would cover and prepare questions for any potential doubts, which significantly increased the effectiveness of the class. I made it a habit to mark parts I thought I might not understand or points I was curious about before class, and then ask the teacher directly during or after class. At first, asking questions felt awkward, but it gradually became more natural, and the teachers answered my questions enthusiastically.
The information I asked about and received answers to didn’t fade from my memory easily. Unlike simply listening passively to a lecture, the process of forming my own questions and resolving them gave me a sense of immersion and made studying enjoyable. I often compared this to completing quests in a video game. Teachers were more inclined to provide additional information to students who asked questions, and as a result, I was able to access more learning resources.
This shift in attitude led to improved grades, but more importantly, it gave me a sense of ownership and confidence in my learning. Unlike when I used to passively consume lessons, actively participating helped the material stick with me longer, and I realized that studying itself wasn’t the goal—it was the process of resolving my curiosities. Through this experience, I gained the conviction that even in unfavorable circumstances, I can grow significantly if I make the most of my classes.
Major School Activities and Reflections
There was a small garden plot in the school backyard available for a limited number of students. At first, I wasn’t particularly interested, but after planting lettuce seeds my parents gave me, harvesting them myself, and being moved by their taste, I began to take an interest in the garden. By my second year, I started growing a variety of crops in earnest and naturally began participating in volunteer work to care for the backyard garden.
Watching the plants grow as I watered and fertilized them felt almost like magic. Before I knew it, seeing the fresh leaves filled me with a sense of responsibility and joy, as if I had become the plant’s guardian and parent. The sense of fulfillment I felt from seeing the crops I had grown healed my mind, which had been exhausted from studying, and I experienced my anxious heart gradually settling down. Gardening became more than just a leisure activity; it became an important source of emotional comfort.
Through gardening, I also discovered the “joy of learning.” At first, I made many mistakes because there was so much I didn’t know, but as I took an interest, read relevant books, and applied the information I found, I was able to revive the plants and help them thrive. In this process, I felt the joy of acquiring knowledge and solving problems, which was a different kind of pleasure from what I experienced in the classroom.
The harvest grew to a quantity I couldn’t manage on my own, so I decided to donate it. When I carefully picked the roses, wrapped them beautifully, and presented them to the senior center, seeing the seniors’ bright smiles gave me a great sense of fulfillment. I also distributed cabbages, radishes, and tomatoes to children’s and senior welfare centers, realizing just how heartwarming it is to share with others. Wanting to share this sense of fulfillment with more friends, I proposed expanding the school garden so other students could participate, and together with my friends, we were able to harvest more produce to share with our neighbors.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
The most memorable act of kindness I did for my friends was the experience of preparing and sharing food made from crops I grew myself. Through my garden activities, my interest in cooking grew, and as I increasingly treated my family to meals made with ingredients I brought from home, my cooking skills naturally improved. Eventually, I began sharing these meals with my friends as well, and through that process, I deeply felt the joy of sharing.
In particular, the steamed pumpkin I made using butternut squash was very popular among my friends. I experimented with various cooking methods—not just steaming, but also adding cheese or seasonings—and even served it mixed with vegetables as a salad. This initiative began with the idea that my friends, who are still growing, need a healthy diet, and I felt a great sense of fulfillment seeing them make healthier choices through the food I prepared.
The food I shared led to a small change—my friends visiting the school canteen less often—and this felt like a tangible way I was helping them. Moreover, sharing wasn’t a one-way street. When I shared food, my friends would bring homemade dishes or share fruits and vegetables from their families; sometimes, they would help me with my studies or offer emotional support. Through these interactions, I truly experienced the value of sharing and gained confidence in the act of trying new things.
Ultimately, the vegetable garden activities and food sharing strengthened relationships among people and fostered a culture of mutual support. Through these experiences, I learned that small acts of kindness and sharing can bring about significant positive change, and I intend to continue acting with others in mind.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation and Career Plans
My interest in the field of industrial management stems from the experiences I gained through community gardening. Through the process of growing crops and sharing them, I realized that simple agricultural activities play a significant role in providing emotional stability and strengthening community bonds. This led me to want to offer these experiences to more people and create a system that combines healing with social value.
Consequently, I conceived a business plan to develop an experiential farm system from an industrial and management perspective. I believe that experiential farms, which offer people the opportunity to touch the soil and connect with nature, can contribute to mental well-being and community restoration beyond mere leisure. I intend to pursue my studies in the Department of Industrial Management to materialize this idea and create a system that transforms perceptions across the entire industry.
Specifically, I plan to study theories across industry, management, and economics, and build practical knowledge regarding e-business and distribution systems. I also intend to gain as much hands-on industrial experience as possible both on and off campus to develop practical skills, and if necessary, pursue graduate studies to acquire deeper data collection capabilities and specialized knowledge. By combining practical experience with theory, I aim to create a systematic business model.
Ultimately, I wish to contribute to society by developing systems that understand human emotions and create social value. By cultivating my abilities through my university education and experiences, I will develop practical engineering and business solutions to help more people find solace through soil and nature.
